The Met Gala dazzled again on May 5, 2025. Stars swarmed the Metropolitan Museum of Art steps, wearing bespoke couture and brazen themes. Yet even amidst all the shine and speculation, there was one name entirely missing—Donald Trump. The one-time regular fixture at the Met Gala is now resolutely off the invitation list. And that is not by accident.
Whereas some suppose that politics and fashion don’t belong together, the Met Gala has demonstrated otherwise. It doesn’t merely commemorate clothing, but values. As the years pass, the affair has evolved from fabulous to significant—thoughtfully staged to meet the present social environment.
Why Donald Trump is Banned From Met Gala?
Anna Wintour left no room for guessing. Back in 2017, on a visit to The Late Late Show with James Corden, the long time Vogue editor-in-chief identified someone she would never invite back: Donald Trump. That one response explained what most had suspected all along. Trump might have trod the Met Gala red carpet in previous years—particularly in his real estate and reality television years—but Anna Wintour established a hard boundary once he was in politics.
Trump has not gone back to the Met Gala since. Neither has Ivanka Trump, who used to go several times. Anna Wintour’s refusal reflected her political orientation. She is a noted Democratic ally, having publicly endorsed Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for president.
However, during Donald Trump‘s term, the situation presented an ideological turn. Anna Wintour did not just snub him for theater—she refocused the Gala to emphasize ethics over celebrity.
So while there’s no official “ban list,” Trump’s exclusion serves as an extremely public cultural declaration. The Met Gala doesn’t simply open its doors to celebrities. It opens them to people who represent the story it wishes to tell.
Who Else Has Been Banned From Attending the Met Gala?
Donald Trump is not the first celebrity to lose his invitation. Numerous A-listers have disappeared from the guest list over the years—and not for lack of fame. Consider Tim Gunn, for example. The style icon once publicly shared a tale of Anna Wintour being escorted down the stairs on bodyguards’ shoulders. Shortly thereafter, his invitations ceased arriving.
Likewise, Lili Reinhart, recognized for her role in Riverdale, publicly dissed Kim Kardashian for her drastic diet in preparation for the 2022 Gala. The next year, she failed to make an appearance. She eventually conceded she never thought she would be invited to attend again. Some, such as Rachel Zoe, Zayn Malik, and Tina Fey, have either condemned the event or distanced themselves. Consequently, they also ceased attending.
In every instance, the message was the same: protest the event, and you may not return. Instead of working on formal guidelines, the Met Gala operates on an unwritten code—one that favors diplomacy, discretion, and conformity to its changing ethos.
What is Met Gala Actually About?
On the surface, the Met Gala appears to be a celebrity costume party. But beneath the glitter is a far greater aim. The event is the main benefactor for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It is the official opening of the Institute’s annual spring show and raises millions to fund curatorial initiatives and fashion scholarship.
On the first Monday in May, each year, the Met Gala becomes a fashion-art-politics-celebrity hybrid. Anna Wintour has presided over it since 1995 and under her has expanded it to become the world’s largest red-carpet event.
Every year takes a theme—from “Heavenly Bodies” to “Camp” to “Gilded Glamour.” The designers create bespoke outfits that interrogate identity, history, and rebellion in cloth. In 2025, the theme honored Black style and dandyism, hoping to spark further discussion about heritage and resistance.
At its core, the Met Gala is not about fashion. It’s about culture—and who gets to decide it.
Who Attended Met Gala 2025 From India ?
Whereas some names fell off the guest list, others made history. India’s presence in global fashion took center stage this year. Indian and Indian-origin stars shone on the red carpet, marrying tradition with edge-pushing style:
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas attended as a power couple, mingling modern couture with heritage. Shah Rukh Khan debuted at his highly anticipated Met Gala, and he immediately was trending globally. Isha Ambani stunned in an artistic piece grounded in heritage, and Kiara Advani wowed in a silhouette from Indian textiles. Diljit Dosanjh brought Punjabi spirit to the blend of global streetwear, and Manish Malhotra offered sheer desi skill. Natasha Poonawalla blended futuristic style with Indian poise, and Diya Mehta Jatia received acclaim for her elegant appearance. New face Mona Patel also caused a stir, demonstrating how Indian voices now drive international luxury trends.
Met Gala: Fashion But With Politics
As the Met Gala becomes more powerful, it also becomes more political. Formerly, it might have been based on Hollywood glamour alone. Now, it represents more profound values—climate consciousness, racial justice, gender identity. Anna Wintour and her staff personally choose guests who support these values. They no longer invite solely on name or wealth. Instead, they say, Does this individual capture where fashion—and culture—is going?
In that context, Donald Trump’s exclusion is no surprise. His politics, words, and persona are in direct opposition to the Met Gala’s progressive messaging. At the same time, inviting activists, diverse creators, and global icons is a sign of change toward something more substantial.
